Piazza del Duomo, Milan

Piazza del Duomo is the main square of Milan, dominated by the cathedral and serving as the city's geographic, artistic, cultural, and social center. The rectangular piazza covers about 17,000 square meters and is surrounded by some of Milan's most important buildings and prestigious shops, making it the city's top tourist attraction.

Don't miss

• Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), which dominates the square
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a 19th-century arcade
• The two Portico Palaces (Palazzo dei Portici Settentrionali and Meridionali) that mark the northern and southern boundaries
• Palazzo dell'Arengario, built during the Fascist era and now housing a 20th-century art museum
• Monument to King Victor Emmanuel II, inaugurated in 1896 in the center of the piazza
• Royal Palace of Milan, redesigned in the 18th century by Giuseppe Piermarini

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Piazza del Duomo, Milan

Cheapest way inMilan Duomo : Guided Cathedral Tour & Rooftop Access Included4.1★ · 119 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$36 per personSee dates →Most bookedMilan Duomo & The Last Supper Skip-the-Line Small Group Tour4.6★ · 2,999 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$162 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleMilan Uncovered: Private Duomo, Castle & Hidden Gems Tour5★ · 17 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$69 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The piazza marks the center of Milan both geographically and culturally.
• The Arengario now houses a museum of 20th-century art.
• Architect Giuseppe Mengoni died in the piazza, falling from scaffolding while supervising works.

A bit of history

The square originated in 1330 when lord Azzone Visconti cleared taverns around two central churches to create a market square called Piazza dell'Arengo. Major redesigns occurred in the 18th century by Giuseppe Piermarini and in the 19th century by Giuseppe Mengoni, who added the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade and the Portico Palaces. The statue of King Victor Emmanuel II was inaugurated in 1896, and the Arengario was built during the Fascist era.